The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-05-20

| oeriand and their former foes upon the battle
F! held, and while the Union General and the
peoples President awaited burial the common
| grief Of these magnanimous soldiers and MOURN
| ing citizens found expression in the determine
| ton to erect this tribute to American great
| ness; and thus to-day, in its symmetry ana
| beauty. it presents sign Of animosities forgot
| ten. an emblem of brotherhood redeemed, and
token Of Nation restored.
Monuments and statues multiply throughout
| the land ittingly illustrative Of the love and
affection Of our grateful people. and commem-
Grating brave and patriotic sacrifices In war,
| fame in peaceful pursuit or honor in public
| station. But from this day forth there shall
| sta I'd at our seat of Government this statue OF
! distinguished citizen who in his life and Ser.
vices combined all these things, and moro
which challenge admiration IN American charac-
| ter. Loving tenderness in every domestic rela-
| ton; bravery on re field of battle: fame and
distinction in our halls Of legislation. and the
highest honor and dignity in the chief magis-
| tracy OF the Nation. This stately effigy shall
not fail to teach every beholder that the source
If American greatness is confined to no condi-
| tion nor dependent alone for its growth and
development upon favorable surroundings.
The genius OF our National life beckons to U.s.
| funess and honor those in every sphere, and
offers the highest preferment to manly ambi-
| ton and sturdy, honest effort. chastened and
consecrated by patriotic hopes and aspirations.
As long as this statue stands, let it be proud
| ly remembered that to every American citizen
| the way is open to fame and station until he
Moving up from high to higher.
Becomes on fortunes crowning slope
The pillar of a peoples hope,
The center of worlds desire"
Nor can we forget that 1t also teaches our
people a sad and distressing lesson; and the
thoughtful citizen who views its fair proper.
tions can not fail to recall the tragedy OF
death which brought grief and mourning to
every household in the land. But while Amer
lean citizenship stands aghast and affrightei
that murder and assassination should
Turk in the midst OF a free people, and strike
down the head of their Government, fear
less search and the discovery of the origin and
hidden place of these hateful and unn atural
things should be followed by solemn resolve
to purge forever from our political methods.
and from the operation of our Government, the
perversons and misconceptions which give
birth to passionate and bloody thoughts.
II from this hour our admiration for the
bravery and nobility Of American manhood
and our faith in the possibilities and opportuni
ties of American citizenship be renewed: if our
appreciation of the blessing of a restored I'm
ion and love for our Government be strength
ened; and if our watchfulness against the dan.
gers of a mad chase after partisan spois be
quickened. the DEDICATION of this statue to the
people Of the United States will not be in vain.
When the President had concluded,
'tHail Columbia was rendered. and the
ceremonies ended with the benediction.
TIE STATUE.
The statue is regarded by its sculptor,
Mr.. j. Q. A. Ward, as one of his most sue
cessful achievements. Its position is
commanding one. The small circle at the
intersection of First street and Maryland
and Pennsylvania avenues is directly at
the foot of the Capitol grounds. and the
statue is to be seen to fair advantage
from the Capitol and surrounding
grounds, and from the intersecting
streets. The statue rises thirty feet into
the air, and surmounts broad aud shape.
ly granite base and graceful pedestal.
Three sides of the shaft are inscribed as
follows:
SOUTHWEST FACE:
'James A. Garfield. 1Sil-1Ss1."
SOUTHEAST FACE:
"MaiorGeneral T. S W. Member Of Congress,
Senator and President of the United
States of America
NORTH FACE:
Erected by his Comrades of the Society OF
the Army of the Cumberland,
May II. 1857
Surrounding the base of the pedestal.
which is nearly twenty feet in height, arr
three life-size rccumbent figures OF
bronze, representing ''W isdom," Force"
and "Patrlotsm."
The figure is ten feet six inches in
height and weighs five thousand pounds.